HC Deb 07 March 1991 vol 187 cc292-4W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf support groups are known to his Department; and what advice and back-up support has been given to them.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

We know of 70 support groups. The Gulf amenities desk telephone line, which is open 24 hours a day, is available to provide information and advice.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which areas of the country from which men and women now serving in the Gulf have been recruited there is no Gulf support group.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Information on areas of the country from which personnel now serving in the Gulf have been recruited is not held centrally, and we are not necessarily aware of all the Gulf support groups operating in the United Kingdom. The question could not, therefore, be answered without incurring disproportionate cost.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the regiments serving in the Gulf and, in each case, indicate from which area of the country the majority of the men and women have been recruited.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The principal recruiting areas of the British Army regiments and corps serving in the Gulf are listed in table A. Regiments and corps which draw their recruits from across the country are listed in table B.

Regiment/Corps Recruiting area
1 Armoured Division Signal Regiment Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside
30 Signal Regiment Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Avon, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall
2 Squadron 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Avon, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall
1st Battalion Scots Guards Scotland, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Isle of Man
1st Battalion Royal Scots Edinburgh, Lothian, Peebles
3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Northumberland, Lancashire, Birmingham, London, Warwickshire
1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers Ayr, Glasgow
1st Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers Dumfries, Galloway, Borders
1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment Staffordshire and Birmingham
1st Battalion Queens Own Highlanders Scottish Highlands
28 Ambulance Squadron Gurkha Transport Regiment Nepal
205 General Hospital (Volunteer) Glasgow
Table B
Regiments and corps which recruit nationwide
Army Air Corps
Corps of Royal Engineers
Coldstream Guards
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Corps of Transport
Royal Pioneer Corps
Royal Military Police
Womens Royal Army Corps

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to arrange for the clean up of military detritus, toxic wastes and redundant equipment in Kuwait, southern Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia as a result of Operation Granby.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

British forces are currently assisting in clearing hazards from the battlefield.

Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department has taken to ensure the general welfare of the families of military personnel serving in the Gulf.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

[holding answer 6 March 1991]: In addition to the normal welfare facilities provided by each service for the support of families and dependants, special arrangements have been made to provide help and support during Operation Granby, including the provision of a Gulf helpline service at military establishments, specialist counselling where needed, the issue of fact sheets and briefings to disseminate information and answer queries. Those who are remote from military establishments are kept in contact by regular telephone calls and information bulletins.